Reformers, Kimbrough At Odds On When Changes Should Occur

December 13, 1990|By Karen M. Thomas, Education writer.

Legislative changes needed to revamp the election process for Chicago school councils should be made during the January session of the Illinois General Assembly and other changes held for the spring, school reformers and council members said Wednesday.

That suggestion differs from plans of school leaders, including Supt. Ted Kimbrough, to seek public input on all issues before seeking changes in the spring session.

The changes became necessary after the Illinois Supreme Court invalidated the Chicago School Reform Act because the election process violated the constitutional principle of one man, one vote.

``Right now it is crucial that we work on the constitutional issues so that there is no ambiguity with principal selection, school-improvement plans and other things the councils are doing,`` said Coretta McFerren of the Association of Better Chicago Schools coalition, an organization of school activists and groups.

``If you lump it all together, we`re going to have a dogfight,`` she said. The coalition has planned a press conference Thursday to lobby for the changes during the Jan. 8 legislative session.

Gov. James Thompson said he also supported a two-step process because a delay in addressing the election procedure might cause the state Supreme Court to become impatient. The court has said it is willing to stay its action to allow enough time for either a rehearing or for changes.

Kimbrough and School Board President Clinton Bristow Jr. said this week that they planned to bring together reformers, special interest groups and council members to work on changes to the law.

The changes, including those needed to address the constitutional flaws, would be sought during the spring session, the school officials said. A rehearing on the issue before the Supreme Court would be sought Dec. 21, they said.

``Jan. 8 is maybe three weeks away,`` said Marj Halperin, Kimbrough`s press secretary. ``We certainly don`t want to rush ahead and do something that gets thrown out of court again. That would be a serious setback.``

Shortly after the law was ruled invalid, state Sen. Arthur Berman (D-Chicago) introduced legislation to fix the constitutional problems. City, school and other attorneys also have been working to develop new voting procedures.

Halperin said that a two-step process also could be used in the spring, placing the constitutional changes in one measure and amendments to the law in the other to prevent ``one large unwieldy bill.``

But some reform groups, school council members and others said that they first want the constitutional flaws corrected because they fear the law would become engulfed in political wrangling that could ultimately weaken the act.

They said they also fear the law would become an enticing bargaining chip to state legislators who face a crowded spring agenda. That agenda includes the extension of the state income-tax surcharge and the redrawing of legislative district boundaries.

And, despite reassurances from school and city officials, many school council members still are uncertain whether any actions they take will be upheld because the entire act was declared invalid by the court. The changes are needed to restore the members` confidence and not erode enthusiasm for school reform, they said.